China says export control measures targeting certain Japanese entities are justified

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's export control measures targeting certain Japanese entities aim to stop Japan's remilitarization and its attempts to possess nuclear weapons, and are entirely justified, reasonable and lawful, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Spokesperson He Yongqian made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a question on China's recently announced export control measures targeting certain Japanese entities.

As a responsible major country, China has always been actively fulfilling its international obligations for non-proliferation, the spokesperson said.

Japan has recently accelerated the expansion of its military forces, developed offensive military capabilities, and sought to lift restrictions on the export of weapons and revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. These moves reflect Japan's dangerous trend of rapid remilitarization as well as its nuclear ambitions, posing a threat to regional and global peace, He said.

China's lawful actions target only a minority of Japanese entities, and the relevant measures apply solely to dual-use items. This will not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan, and Japanese entities that act in good faith and comply with the law have absolutely no cause for concern, she added.

The ministry on Tuesday added 20 Japanese entities, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co., to its export control list, to safeguard China's national security and interests, and to fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation.

It also added 20 Japanese entities, including SUBARU Corporation, on a watch list, as their end-users and end-uses of dual-use items cannot be verified. ■